RUGBY FOOTBALL

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14658, 23 May 1921, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

HAMILTON (13) v. FRANKLIN (6), The teams were:— Hamilton. —Mathieson; Marks, 0. Clarkln, O'Sullivan; Warren, Buckingham; Rowe; Hooper, Shaw, Warren, Devine, Farrelly, Christie, Bcvin and S. Clarkin. Franklin.—Gnfm; Noble, Smeed, Matthew; Leighton, Wray; Adams; Short, Balme, Wilson, Marshall, Bremner, Logan, Bilkey, and .1. Markham. Hamilton (black and gold), Franklin (.blue and white). Hamilton opened against the sun, and had the best of the early part of ihc attack, and soon forced the home team. Buckingham opened up an attack, and fed Marks, but Devine failed to take an in-pass. Leighton opened up play well, and sent on to Wray, but the latter’s kick rebounded from Buckingham. The latter and Marks were shortly seen in a nice movement, G. Clarkin coming on the outside, but he failed to get a difficult pass. The homo side worked over half-way, where Leighton had a long shot at goal, but it was resultless. The Hamilton rankers heeled beautifully, but the home tackling stayed Buckingham and Hie advance. Marks was next prominent, feeding into Devine, but Hooper failed to hold a pass. It was too far back. From a cross kick Bilkey got towards the western twentylive, but Matheson’s goal effort, though good, was unavailing. Farrelly wais caught offside, the second offence, from a cross kick by C. Clarkin. Noble, by a kick-out from under- his goal, turned the tide of attack led by Devine. Hamilton kept up the attack, Rowe feeding out on the short from a scrum to S. Clarkin, to Marks, but an attacker infringed, and the penalty stayed the advance as the quarter ended. The home forwards got offside from a scrum on the resumption. Noble was shortly called on to save the home team, and he answered the call. Wray saved a mistake by Leighton, and then O’Sullivan opened an attack, with Buckingham supporting him, the latter being pushed out over the home eastern twenty-live. A force down terminated the attack. Play immediately swung west, and Hooper scored from a forward melee. Mathieson’s kick went wide. Hamilton 3, Franklin 0. A wild passing effort gave Franklin the initiative, and following a cut in by G. Clarkin the defenders rushed play up Held, but offside work nullified the effort after progress had been made to the visitors’ twenty-five. Franklin opened out, but Leighton held on, and Wray paid the penalty with the visiting forwards quickly seizing the opportunity. The visiting passing attempted at this stage failed to be nippy enough, and lost ground. The home side heeled from a following scrum, but short side work soon terminated on the touch. C. Clarkin and (hen Matheson were called on to stay matters, while Devine carried on, making fruit of a failure by Matthew, hut went out of bounce. From a free inside the visitors’ twenty-five Leighton failed. Franklin kept on the attack, and aided by kicking they carried play near the opposition’s goal to the cast. Leighton here again had a shot for offside play, and landed a line goal just as half-time was called. Franklin 3, Hamilton 3. The home side worked dangerously close to the visitors’ line on resuming, but a timely kick by S. Clarkin brought relief. Christie displayed good following work in continuation of the clearance, and then Hooper broke clear. Christie again appeared on the scene from a line out, but Noble stayed the attack. A good mark by Wray brought the home side further relief. The home forwards carried on' an effective loose rush, the stopping of which found .some of tlie visiting backs shirking. Matheson got them out of a dangerous movement by a timely kick. Franklin kept up the attack, and at the goal front were awarded a penalty, Leighton again goaling. C. Clarkin got down on Noble from the kick-out, and Leighton just got to the ball in lime as S. Clarkin followed a long kick over the line. There was some faulty work by the visiting backs, but they recovered themselves, and swept towards the goal, Crum, Noble, and Bremner, in turn, coming to the rescue of the heme side. Franklin swept down east, Marks staying them with a kick out. O'Sullivan, Buckingham and Warren were then seen in a neat movement. Christie, who was playing a great game in the loose, soon carried on, and fed, in to Devine. The lock improved the position, and re-transferred to Christie, the latter having an opponent on him, and stumbling, caused him to miss a certain try. The blemish was not Christie’s fault. After a scries of exciting play Christie booted promptly, and S. Clarkin, who supported well, picked the leathar up, and ran over near the posts. D. Warren failed narrowly. Hamilton G, Franklin G. Buckingham and Rowe were in turn conspicuous for good defensive work, and then C. Warren "jine into the picture. Franklin were inside Die visitors' half as an interesting spell closed. The final quarter opened with both sides sparring to gain the advantage. The visiting forwards kept up the improved combined work, but a great retaliatory effort by the home forwards, in which the defence of the visiting backs was tested truly, was terminated right under the posts, where an attacker was penalised for hanging on. C. Clarkin made a great dash shortly after with Marks supporting him, but although his cutting in effort was a line one, the pass-out suffered, and Marks had no chance. From immediately following play Mathieson got the ball and kicked a fine goal from the field.—Hamilton 10, Franklin 6. Franklin retaliated with a loose forward rally from the kick-out. It terminated at the western half. C. Clarkin shortly made a great run with Marks supporting him, but the latter failed to get to the ball. S.Clarkin then had an unavailing shot from a free, and C. Clarking put in another fine run with D. Warren in support, but the defence proved effective. Hamilton were playing ail over the opposition now. From a free in front S. Clarkin’s shot turned to the right. G. Clarkin again put in a great run, and took the in-pass from O’Sullivan, but a dangerous attack was eventually stayed. A free kick saved the defenders, who shortly rushed play to the eastern half. C. Clarkin opened up again east and O’Sullivan finished the effort with a try in the south-east corner. S. Clarkin’s shot failed, and the game ended —Hamilton 13, Franklin G. Mr Reynolds was referee. HAMILTON B (18) v. WAIKARE (9). The above match was the star attraction at Steele Park on Saturday, and there was a great crowd present. The day was an ideal one for football, there being no sun or wind. Hamilton won the loss, and from an exchange of kicks Bailey found the line past midfield. Leuihan transferred play to the twenty-live, but Stewart and Storey were instrumental In putting Hamilton on the defence. Keith snapped up a good mark for Waikare, and Stewart goaled with a good kick.

In play Hamilton were the aggressors, and Malhieson whipped out to Peach, to Lenihon, to Bailey, the latter being grassed near the line. From the scrum Storey relieved. Going and McGregor headed a strong rush, which Denham stopped, and Carter and Keith took well down the Held. Gibbons beat several men by cutting in nicely, but was slow in getting rid of the ball. The ball was kicked to Cassells, who cross punted, and Bailey, coming along fast, snapped up cleanly, and dived o\er. Cassells made a good, but ineffectual attempt at goal. Hamilton kept up the pressure, and Bailey had a long drop at goal, the ball striking the post low down. The local team kept up the pressure, and Hunt marked, but Cassells’ kick did not materialise. Lambic booled over tin; line, Denham forcing. In play Lynch booted well down the field, and Keith, following up fast, took the leather over the line, Hunt forcing just in time. Sandos was in the lead of a rush which was stopped in the visitors’ twentyfive. Offside by Waikare gave Mathleson a shot in a good position, but it was resultless. On resuming the second quarter Storey kicked Hie ball to Hunt, and caught him before he could get his kick in. Cassells, however, got back and relieved, and from a mark near half-way the visitors had a shot, the ball just missing the posts. Cassells made a good opening, and sent to Mathieson, to Lenihan, who failed to hold a hard pass, and a likely score was lost. Stewart transferred play ffi the locals’ territory, but a couple of penalties in quick succession saved the home team. Gibbons, with another fine run, got close to the twenty-five, and sent to Peach, but he hung on too long, and spoilt a score. Lenihan got possession, and sent to Bailey, the latter punting over the line, and just missed scoring. In play a penalty gave Peach a shot at goal, but he Just missed the uprights. Hamilton were striving hard to score, and from a lineout Jaques sent to Molcsworth, back to Jaques, the latter scoring near the posts. The kick failed. Jaques was nearly over a minute or two later, and from the loose Lambie scored. The kick again was resultless. Marshall and Austin took the leather well in the homesters’ twenty-five, and from a penalty Stewart added the points, making the score 9 to 6 when the whistle went for half-time. On resuming, Stewart was instrumental in placing Hamilton on the defence, but Bailey relieved, A nice passing rush, in which Matheson, Gibbons, Peach, Lenihan, and Bailey took part, saw the latter grassed near the line, Brash relieving. Austin got near midfield, but Hunt sent him back. It was only momentarily, as Stewart had Hamilton defending, till Hunt brought relief with a good kick. Peach made a fine opening, and sent to Gibbons, the latter being grassed near the line. Jaques snapped up. but his kick was too hard, and a force resulted. Bade led the visitors the length of the held, and several men were on top of Hunt, who failed to take, but he managed to get his kick in. The local team were penalised, but the kick failed to rise. The Blues were almost over, but Matheson was the stumbling block, and got the line near half-way. From the loose here Matheson cleverly got through the team, and was brought down by Denham indies from the line. Here Sandos got possession, and struggled across, Peach’s kick missing, the score reading 12 to 6. Cassells started his team going again, and after several backs handled the ball Bailey was brought down just in time. Mathieson potted at goal, but a force was Hie result. Foote and Keitti took the leather over Hamilton’s line, but Lenihan forced. The score read 12 to 6 as the final quarter was entered on. Cassds and Lenihan got close to the Blues’ line, but Stewart saved. A pretty bit of play now took place by Hamilton. Sandos snapped up, and sent to McGregor, to Cassells, to Bailey, back to McGregor to Matheson, to Lambie, who touched down under the posts. Cassells missed an easy kick. Stewart and Carter, for Waikare, looked dangerous, but Hunt got his team out of trouble. The Blues now gave Hamilton a torrid time, and got over, but a breach sent them back. However Bailey and Lenihan changed the scene of operations, carrying the leather over the line, a force being the result. The Blues came again, and when looking dangerous in Hamilton’s twenty-five, Cassells intercepted a pass, and setting sail for the line line, beat a couple of men, and scored a beautiful try under the posts. The kick again failed. The visiting team now played hard, and Hamilton ware busy defending. Waikare were rewarded, as Brash crossed the line near the corner. The kick was not improved on, and the whistle went shortly afterwards with the score 18 to 9 in favour of Hamilton. Mr Tom French had charge of the game.